Public toilet locations and facilities
Below is a list of public toilets and facilities throughout the Derbyshire Dales. Use this online form to leave us your feedback or comments.
Ashbourne - Shawcroft carpark
- Baby changing : yes
- Disabled : yes
- Summer opening times : 29th March to October, 8:30am to 5:30pm
- Winter opening times : November to 28th March, 9:30am to 4:30pm
Bakewell - Granby Road
- Baby changing : yes
- Disabled : yes
- Summer opening times : 29th March to October, 8:30am to 5:30pm
- Winter opening times : November to 28th March, 9:30am to 4:30pm
Bakewell - Recreation Ground
- Baby changing : yes
- Disabled : yes
- Summer opening times : 29th March to October, 8:30am - 5.30pm
- Winter opening times : November to 28th March, Closed
Baslow - Nether End carpark
- Baby changing : yes
- Disabled : yes
- Opening times : January to December, 8:30am to 4:30pm
Hartington - Mill Lane
- Baby changing : no
- Disabled : yes
- Opening times : January to December, 8:30am to 4:00pm
Matlock - Bus Station
- Baby changing : yes
- Disabled : yes
- Summer opening times : 29th March to October, 8:30am to 5.30pm
- Winter opening times : November to 28th March, 9:30am to 4:00pm
Matlock - Hall Leys Park
- Baby changing : yes
- Disabled : yes
- Summer opening times : 29th March to October, 8:30am to 5.30pm
- Winter opening times : November to 28th March, 9:30am to 4:30pm
Matlock Bath - Memorial Gardens
- Baby changing : yes
- Disabled : yes
- Summer opening times : 29th March to October, 8:30am to 5.30pm
- Winter opening times : November to 28th March, 9:30am to 4:30pm
Middleton-by-Youlgrave - Weaddow Lane
- Baby changing : no
- Disabled : yes
- Summer opening times : 29th March to October, 8:30am to 5.30pm
- Winter opening times : November to 28th, Closed
Toilet closures and transfers
At a special council meeting of Derbyshire Dales District Council held on Monday 30 April 2018 it was agreed that 10 local loos run by the District Council would close on 14 May, although talks would continue about the possibility of some of them reopening under more local control.
- Watch the 'Future of Dales loos' video meeting on YouTube
- View the 'Public Conveniences Review 2018' report [PDF 1536KB] to the meeting
Councillors were told that continuing to operate 26 public toilets across the Dales at a cost of £467,000 was “unsustainable” and could have a serious impact on frontline and statutory services.
The District Council isn’t obliged to provide public toilets.
Successive central government grant cuts, including a further £637,000 reduction in 2018/19, have forced the council to review all the services it provides.
Rationalising toilets will mean that better, higher quality facilities will be provided in areas of most need.
It was agreed to introduce a 20p charge in August 2018 for the use of high quality loos in these six busy locations:
- Matlock's Hall Leys Park
- Bakewell's Granby Road
- Bakewell Recreation Ground
- Ashbourne's Shawcroft
- Matlock Bath Memorial Gardens
- Matlock Bus Station.
Some local authorities such as Wirksworth Town Council acted promptly to take over their loos by increasing their share of Council Tax. Unlike the District Council, town and parish councils are not restricted by the amount they can increase Council Tax by.
Cromford Community Association agreed to take over the facility in Cromford and a Community Asset Transfer has also been agreed for the facilities at Ashford in the Water, with a one-year lease proposed to transfer the facilities at Eyam to the parish council in return for a 50% contribution towards running costs, subject to review in 2019.
Negotiations are also underway about the possible transfer to parish/town councils of the public toilets in Bradwell and Bonsall. The Matlock Hall Leys Park play area toilets, where a temporary portaloo was installed for the duration of the 2018 tourist season following closure of the old buildings, have now been taken over by Matlock Town Council and reopened in 2019.
Portaloos are installed at the Matlock Bath Pavilion site for the District Council’s annual Matlock Bath Illuminations, while outside groups organising events in that area of the village are being urged to factor in the need for portaloo provision.
The meeting confirmed the closure on 14 May 2018 of loos at Ashbourne's Recreation Ground, Bakewell's Riverside, Birchover, Darley Dale, Artist's Corner Matlock Dale, Matlock Bath Pavilion, Matlock Hall Leys Park Play Area, Monsal Head, Monyash and Thorpe.
However, private interest has been shown in the future potential of the sites recommended for closure at Birchover, Monsal Head and Thorpe. At Monsal Head there is a prospect of securing a public convenience on site, run by a private company.
At Ashbourne Recreation Ground a joint partnership arrangement with the District Council and community groups will shortly see the transfer of land owned by the District Council for the erection of a new Pavilion, and agreement has been reached to provide a public toilet as part of that project.
To help plug the gap of any permanent closures, a Community Toilet Scheme is being adopted by the District Council, where local businesses will be asked to allow members of the public to use their own loos for free in exchange for a small revenue grant. The council is also be exploring new sponsorship and advertising options at retained public conveniences. Eyam toilets were taken over by Eyam Parish Council.